| Local Editor | |
 Iran's military has shot down an unmanned US Army RQ-170 aerial vehicle in the "east of the country," Iran's Al-Alam satellite channel reported Sunday, quoting a military source.The drone was downed after it penetrated the eastern airspace of Iran. Iranian forces seized the dropped plane, where it was not "badly damaged" and still in good shape. No further details were provided |
Iran's military shoots down US spy drone: Iranian TV
Published Sunday, December 4, 2011
Iran's armed forces shot down an American drone Sunday after it violated Iranian airspace, officials in Iran's military told state television.
"An advanced RQ-170 unmanned American spy plane was shot down by Iran's armed forces. It suffered minor damage and is now in possession of Iran's armed forces," the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
According to Iranian officials the unmanned American drone entered Iranian airspace to spy on Iran's nuclear activity.
Iran's Arabic-language news station al-Alam quoted the military as saying, "The Iranian military's response to the American spy drone's violation of our airspace will not be limited to Iran's borders any more."
The aircraft Iran claims to have shot down, an RQ-170, is manufactured by Lockheed Martin and is also used in US operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The aircraft is believed to be equipped with stealth and surveillance technology, but the US Air Force has not made this public.
According to Iranian officials, last January two unmanned spy planes operated by the US were shot down when they flew into Iranian airspace.
After the incident Iran offered to put the two aircraft on public display.
The US, along with Britain, Israel, and other Western powers, accuse Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons.
Iran denies the charges, insisting its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only.
Israel and its Western allies have sought to increase pressure on Iran after a damning report issued last month by the UN's atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accused the Islamic Republic of seeking nuclear weapons.
Tehran slammed the report as "lousy intelligence," while Russia criticized it as "politically motivated."
Israel is the only known Middle Eastern state to have a nuclear arsenal, roughly numbering 200 nuclear warheads, but it is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
(al-Akhbar, AP, Reuters)
"An advanced RQ-170 unmanned American spy plane was shot down by Iran's armed forces. It suffered minor damage and is now in possession of Iran's armed forces," the Islamic Republic News Agency reported.
According to Iranian officials the unmanned American drone entered Iranian airspace to spy on Iran's nuclear activity.
Iran's Arabic-language news station al-Alam quoted the military as saying, "The Iranian military's response to the American spy drone's violation of our airspace will not be limited to Iran's borders any more."
The aircraft Iran claims to have shot down, an RQ-170, is manufactured by Lockheed Martin and is also used in US operations in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
The aircraft is believed to be equipped with stealth and surveillance technology, but the US Air Force has not made this public.
According to Iranian officials, last January two unmanned spy planes operated by the US were shot down when they flew into Iranian airspace.
After the incident Iran offered to put the two aircraft on public display.
The US, along with Britain, Israel, and other Western powers, accuse Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons.
Iran denies the charges, insisting its nuclear program is for civilian purposes only.
Israel and its Western allies have sought to increase pressure on Iran after a damning report issued last month by the UN's atomic watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), accused the Islamic Republic of seeking nuclear weapons.
Tehran slammed the report as "lousy intelligence," while Russia criticized it as "politically motivated."
Israel is the only known Middle Eastern state to have a nuclear arsenal, roughly numbering 200 nuclear warheads, but it is not a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
(al-Akhbar, AP, Reuters)
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